"A few years ago on this show, I made a joke about Mel Gibson getting a bit drunk and saying a few unsavoury things," he said.
"But I now find myself in the awkward position of having to introduce him again. Listen, I'm sure it's embarrassing for both of us."
Mr Gervais then went on to make specific reference to the antisemitic abuse Gibson launched at an LA police officer in 2006 when he was arrested for drunk-driving: "I still feel really bad about it [the Emmy Awards joke], Mel's forgotten all about it apparently. That's what drinking does.”
Not one to let a joke end too early, Mr Gervais apparently closed the awards show with “Shalom”: “From myself and Mel Gibson, shalom.”
